A woman said to a man, "The daughter of your only sister is the sister of my husband." what is the relation of man's sister to the woman?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-1st

Explanation

The statement establishes that the man's niece (the daughter of his only sister) is also the sister of the woman's husband.
This means the woman's husband and the man's niece are siblings.
As siblings, they share the same mother, who is identified as the man's only sister.
The mother of a person's husband is their mother-in-law. Thus, the man's sister is the woman's mother-in-law.

Option A: The man's sister is the mother of the woman's husband, not the woman herself. The woman's own mother is not mentioned in the puzzle.
Option C: The information provided is sufficient to establish a direct and unambiguous relationship between the man's sister and the woman.
Option D: The correct answer, 'Mother-in-law', is available as one of the options (Option B).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain This question tests logical deduction and the ability to solve blood relation puzzles as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This type of question assesses logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, which are part of the General Intelligence and Reasoning sections of many nursing and other competitive examinations.
While not clinical, the ability to think systematically and deduce conclusions from complex information is a valuable skill for nurses in assessing patient situations and care plans.
What if the statement was 'The daughter of your only sister is my husband's only cousin'? The relationship would become indeterminate (Data inadequate), as the cousin could be from the paternal or maternal side, and the man's sister would be one of several possible aunts-in-law.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify all the individuals mentioned in the statement: the woman (speaker), the man, the man's only sister, the sister's daughter, and the woman's husband.
Break the complex sentence into smaller, simpler relationship clauses. For instance: Clause 1 is 'the daughter of your only sister'. Clause 2 is 'the sister of my husband'.
Find the common link that connects the clauses. Here, the person described in Clause 1 is the same person as in Clause 2.
Translate the relationships: 'Daughter of man's sister' is the man's niece. This niece is the 'sister of the woman's husband'.
Draw a simple diagram or family tree to map these connections visually. This helps prevent confusion.
Once the tree is clear, identify the two people the question asks about (man's sister and the woman) and trace their relationship through the connections you've established.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: This question tests logical deduction and the ability to solve blood relation puzzles.
Stem keywords: woman, man, daughter, only sister, husband, relation
Lead-in keywords: what is the relation

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Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-1st

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.